How to Cite a Podcast [MLA, APA, & Chicago Styles]

Gone are the times of citing solely print assets and net pages. In 2025, podcasts are an ever-growing supply of distinctive content material with priceless (and citable) data.

Regardless of which quotation type you employ, you will want to seek out some primary data on the episode. This is an inventory of the important thing parts you will want (and discover them): 

• Writer/creator
• Title of the podcast
• Title of the podcast episode
• Writer 
• Publication Date (date episode was launched)
• Podcast URL 

The excellent news is, many of the data you will want is straightforward to seek out between your podcast participant and a fast Google search, however how have you learnt whether or not you have to cite a podcast to start with?

When you have to cite a podcast episode

Earlier than you discover ways to cite a podcast, let’s evaluate know whether or not it is necessary in your distinctive case.

Ask your self these questions to find out whether or not you have to give credit score to the present’s creator:

• Am I quoting the host/episode word-for-word?
• Did I take advantage of data, information, or information I discovered in a podcast?
• Have I summarized concepts or am I paraphrasing the ideas of the creator?

In case you answered sure to a number of of those questions, you will have to cite the podcast to present credit score to the host, or visitor, whose work you reference. This helps to keep away from plagiarism and any copyright points.

Select a quotation type

Most on-line quotation turbines aren’t programmed to quote podcast collection, however you should use the templates beneath to precisely cite a podcast.

Citing your work includes utilizing each in-text quotation (or endnotes, within the case of Chicago Model) and a reference record. In-text citations allow you to cite sources throughout the physique of your textual content and a reference record contains extra particulars on these sources on the finish of your content material.

With Chicago type, you employ endnotes to quote your data after the principle textual content, however earlier than the reference record, as an alternative of utilizing parenthetical citations.

To quote your podcast, choose the format that greatest matches the topic of the episode you are citing and plug within the related data! Listed here are tutorials that you should use to match every type information:

MLA Model 8

Used for: Humanities (English, drama, faith, philosophy, regulation, & politics)

Reference:

Final, First, M.I. of creator. “Title of episode.” Title of Podcast, Title of writer/the place you listened to episode, Date it was posted, URL.

In-text quotation:

(Host’s final identify, begin time of revelant section-end time of part)

APA format 7the version

Used for: Social sciences (psychology, sociology, science, & medication)

APA type asks for the “contributor title “( i.e. the title of the individual you are citing). More often than not, the contributor title can be “producer” or “host”, nevertheless it will also be the episode’s visitor should you’re citing their materials.

Reference:

Final, First, M.I. (Contributor title). Date episode was printed (Yr, Month Day). Podcast title [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from URL.

In-text quotation:

(Podcast Title, Yr)

In-text direct quote:

(Host’s final identify, 12 months, timestamp)

Or

Sign Phrase: “Kauffman (2020) stated in his podcast…”

Chicago type 

Used for: Enterprise, historical past, & positive arts (largely used for printed, scholarly works)

Reference:

Final, First, M.I. “Title of Podcast.” Produced by Firm. Title of Podcast.  [Podcast audio], Month Day, Yr episode was uploaded. Podcast URL

Endnotes (no in-text citations)

First, Final, M. Date of podcast. “Title of podcast.” Podcast audio. Episode title. Writer. File sort. Accessed Month Day, Yr. Podcast URL

Extra instruments & assets:

Take a look at these useful quotation instruments and guides to make the podcast citing course of as fast, straightforward, and correct as potential!

FAQs

Who will get high billing, the host or the chief producer?

• APA lists the host as creator; add “(Host)” in sq. brackets. Credit score the chief producer solely when that function is important for figuring out the supply; record one or the opposite, nor each, within the creator place.
• MLA and Chicago can identify both function however normally lead with the host; the producer strikes to the contributor aspect (“produced by…”).

I discovered the identical episode as a YouTube video and an audio file. Do I cite them collectively?

No. All three kinds deal with a YouTube video individually from the audio feed. Present one reference for the video model and one other for the audio podcast episode so readers can entry both supply.

How do I deal with quick clips of a podcast on social media?

• APA quotation follows the social-media template: creator, date, first 20 phrases of the caption, [Video attached] or [Audio attached] in sq. brackets, platform identify, and URL. Then cite the total episode elsewhere should you quote from it.
• MLA and Chicago deal with the clip as a social-media put up; embrace deal with, date, and direct hyperlink, plus a separate entry for the total episode if wanted.

The place can I double-check instance references?

• Purdue OWL provides clear guides for APA, MLA, and Chicago.
• Many college LibGuides (Georgetown, Cornell, and so on.) present side-by-side templates so you may affirm italics, punctuation, and line breaks earlier than finalizing your bibliography.

Do I ever embrace an episode quantity in MLA or Chicago?

Sure. Each kinds permit, however don’t require, an episode or season quantity to assist readers find a particular section. If the present numbers episodes, embrace that element after the title (MLA) or after the date (Chicago).

Ought to I identify the manufacturing firm?

All three kinds suggest itemizing the manufacturing firm or community after the title data. If the present is absolutely impartial, repeat the host’s identify or use the model below which episodes are launched.

Do I want particular notation for a bonus or unnumbered episode?

• APA: write “Bonus episode” contained in the square-bracket descriptor rather than the episode quantity.
• MLA: describe it after the title, e.g., “Bonus episode,” earlier than stating the host or producer.
• Chicago: add “Bonus episode” after the date.

How do I cite a trailer or teaser that has no clear host?

Credit score the manufacturing firm as creator in APA and Chicago; MLA locations the corporate within the contributor slot after the title. If a narrator is called, it’s possible you’ll record them as “Narrated by…”

Do quotation kinds require the platform, like Spotify or Apple Podcasts?

Provided that that URL is one of the best entry level. In any other case, hyperlink to the present’s web site. APA explicitly requires a secure URL; MLA and Chicago desire permanence however settle for normal podcast hyperlinks if no archive exists.